Reel



AJumezo,19:19.. 'I .LAQcQx 2,162,774 .1

' j I REEL v i v Fi1ed July 15, 1936 2l sheets-sheet 1 Pg l wenor.' Po

13 Joseph Jh; Conce June zo, 1939. J. A. coxE 2,162,774

REEL

Filed Jul 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

The invention relates to shing reels and includes among its objectsv and advantages increased durability 'and certainty of operation in a free spool reel.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Y

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a free spool mechal nism, partly in section, on line I-I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan View of a modification;

l5 Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail section on line 1--1 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a detail sectionof an oversize reel using the same transmission chassis.

29 In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the reel comprises the usual spool shaft I IJ, sleeve II, and end bells I2, oly one of which hasv been illustrated. The head end plate I4 is of Bakelite with a metal facing at I6. It may be connected with the tail plate I5 in the usual Way by a plurality of pillars I1 fastened in place by screws I9. The frame plate I8 is rigidly fastened to the head end plate I4 as by means of four fastening screws 26. Between the frame plate VI8 and the head end plate I4 lies the cam plate 22, and between the cam plate 22 and the head end plate I4 lies the lifting yoke 24. The drive pinion 26 has an intermediate annular groove at 28 receiving the edge of the yoke 24. The spool end of the gear is provided with a female clutch member at 30, such, for instance, as that illustrated in the co-pending application of John V. Schafer, Serial Number 4,731, filed February 4, 1935. The adjacent end of the Yspool shaft I0 includes'a male clutch'member at 32, a large diameter journal at 34 tting the'bore 36 in the gear 26, and an end pivot 38 journaled in a suitable bearing at 4I).

Suitable means are provided for rotating thel gear 26. I have illustrated a. stud 46 krigidly mounted on the frame plate I8, about which rotates the tubular drive shaft 48, having the integral ratchet wheel 5D at its lower end. The teeth 52 of the .ratchet wheel are engaged by a pawl 54 to prevent rotation of the shaft in the direction of reeling out. The spring 56 for actuating .the pawl 54 has one end clamped on the frame plate at 58 and is then Wrapped around Vvone of the fastening screws 20 with its free end 68 bearing .against the pawl 54. b

tra? The drive gear 62 is constantly in mesh with the spool pinion 26, and is connected to the v'shaft 48 by a variable friction drive including the thrust Vsleeve 64 and the friction washers 66 lying on opposite sides of the web of the gear. The sleeve 'L5 64 may be forced down by the usual star wheel 6I threaded on the threads 63 below the `drive crank 65, held in place by the usual knurled nut `59. To secure gradual and accurately controllable application of the friction a resilient cupped im washer 61 is interposed between the upper friction washer .66 and the flange 69 -of` the sleeve V64. In sizes where the washer 61 tends to abrade the outer edge of adjacent Afriction washer a 'flatjproteetirig washer v1| is interposed to distribute the tu load. The sleeve 64 and washers 61 and 1I all turn with the driveshaft 48,4 being shaped to t the yiiattened portions 13 of the drive shaft for that purpose. The Ystrength of the washer 61 is such that nearly the entire range of friction loads 4 for which the reel is designed can be obtained fwithout completely flattening the washer 61. At,

or slightly below, the maximum safe load on the parts, the washer 61 is completely flattened and the force generated by screwing down the star 595 wheel 6I is transmitted by direct thrust.

The yoke 24 includes a central U-shaped portion engaging the' groove 28 in' the gear 26, and oppositely directed arms 42. Headed studs 44 rigid with the frame plete ia pass through the l0 ends'of the arms 42. Helical compression springs 56 encircling the studs Y114 push downwardly on the arms AI2 and tend to move the yoke 24 downwardly and the clutch members 36 and 32 into engagement. 35

The cam plate 22 includes spaced arms 68 underlying the arms 42. Lifting cams 1I) formed on the arms 68 operate to` raise the yoke 24 whenever the cam plate 22 is moved to the right from the position shown in Figure v'17. 40 Movement of thecam plate to the left -from the position of Figure 1 is prevented by turned down toes 12 on the ends of the arms 68 (see Figure 3) entering into openings 14 in the frame plate I 8, and the plate 22 is further guid- '-45 ed by the heads 16 of short studs positioned vto engage the straight sides 18 of the body of the plate. In Figures l and 2 the upper and lower left corners cf the cam plate 22 carry arms 80, oiTset upwardly at 82, and then extending forl50 ward as at 64 with their ends passing through guiding apertures in lugs 86 turned up from the frame plateA I8. Compression springs` 88 vpush on the-arms -88 and normally hold the cam-plate in the position of Figure Y1. -I have illustrated 55 seat washers 90 providing abutments for the ends of the springs 88.

'I'he actuating means illustrated includes the shift lever 92 rigid with the shaft 94 journaled in the head end plate I4 and carrying an operating handle 96 at its other end. The handle 96 of the lever 92 pro-jects axially into the plane of the head end plate I4, but the parts are so designed that the lever comes to rest in either extreme position with the handle 96 close to but out of contact with the adjacent edge of the head end plate. The shaft 94 carries an eccentric shifting pin 9'I which enters the slot 98 in the cam plate 22. It will be apparent that rotation of the shifting lever in a counterclockwise direction from the position of Figure 1 will force the cam plate 22 over to the right and move the cams 'I0 under the arms of the yoke 24, thus lifting the yoke and removing the female clutch member 30 from operative engagement rwitlhthe V,male clutch member 32. This movement continues until the pin 91 has gone past dead center position, and therefore the force of the springs 88 will assist in holding the lever A9,2 in either extreme position.

It will be apparent that in disassembling the `reel for cleaning and inspection, unfastening 'the head end plate I4 from pillars I'I permits withdrawal of the head end plate from the pillars and from the spool, with all the working mechanism of the reel still undisturbed. The adjacent end of the shaft I0, as indicated in Figure 4, simply slips out of its bearings at 40 and 36. Furthermore, after this separation, removal of the nut 59, crank 65 and starwheel 6|, leaves no obstacle to removal of screws 20 and separation o-f the Working assembly ofthe reel, still in the form of an undisturbed unitary assembly, with which the star wheel 6 I, crank 65, and nut 59 can be reassembled to keep them from getting lost. Only the spool bearing 40 and the manual adjustment means 92, 94, 96, 91 remain with the 'end plate I4, and the condition and operation of Ythe entire transmission and clutch-actuating means can be inspected and tested. The plate I8 thus constitutes a subordinate frame or chas- ,siscarrying all the vital transmission parts. In

misson parts are as perfectly adjusted to each other as in a complete new reel, independent of the mechanical skill, or lack of skill, of the owner of the reel.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7 the parts assembled with the plate are identical with those of Figure l, except that lugs 86, springs 88, and the projection on the cam plate for carrying said springs have been omitted, and toes 12 have been replaced by lugs |02 stamped up from plate |00 and entering slots |04 in the cam plate |06.

The Bakelite plate |08 is a mere housing, inasmuch as the pillars I I0 pass through the edges of the plate |00. Such a construction permits the use of an identical chassis for reels of different diameters. Thus in Figure 8 the same plate |00 is assembled with a Bakelite plate II2 of larger diameter. In such a construction I reinforce the Bakelite by an extension ring II8 of equal strength with the plate |00 and fastened to the plate |00 by screws II4. The ring IIB has vtwo corrugatio-ns to stiffen it,and the iuner corrugation projects out, as at |20, to shield the adjacent edge of the end bell II2. The similar offset at |22 in the plate |00 no longer functions as a line guard, but is still effective in stiifening the plate |00.

In both embodiments the clutch members 30 and 32 stop a few thousandths of an inch short of axial abutment, so that the load of springs 56 is carried between the plate I8 and the heads of studs 44, and not imposedas a l friction load on the tail end bearing. l

In the embodiment of Figures to 8, the best operation in use is obtainable with the lever 02 loosely pivoted and with pin 9'I having a clearance of a few thousandths of an inch in its slot 98. However, the inexperienced purchaser is apt to consider the resulting play in the lever 92 as a mechanical defect instead of the advantage it really is. The very light friction needed to keep the lever 92 from rattling, without interfering with effective operation in use, can best be provided by a very light spring washer at |24 (see Figure 6).

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying knowledge current at the time of application, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a free spool fishing reel, in combination: spaced plates; frame connections uniting said plates into a unitary frame; a rotatable spool within said frame having a shaft; a transmission for driving said spool including gearing, an adjustable friction drag, and clutch means; externally accessible manual control means carried by one plate, for engaging and disengaging said clutch means; externally accessible removable manual drag adjustment means for said Afriction drag, carried by said transmission; an

externally accessible removable crank carried by said transmission for actuating said transmission; and a stationary chassis plate mounted on said last mentioned plate and carrying said entire transmission; said chassis plate and transmission being removable as a unitary assembly from the spool, frame connections and plates constituting the rest of said reel.

2. In a free spool shing reel, in combination:

spaced head end and tail endY plates; connecy tions uniting said plates into a unitary frame; a rotatable spool having a shaft; a transmission for driving said spool including gearing, an adjustable friction drag for braking the movement of said gearing, and clutch means for connecting said gearing to said spool; and a stationary chassis plate mounted on said head end plate and carrying said entire transmission; said chassis plate and transmission beingl removable from said head end plate as a unitary c assembly. l

3. In a free spool fishing reel, in combination: a chassis plate having an offset rim; aspool having an end bell; the edge of said endbell being guarded by said rim; a completetransmission carried by said chassis plate for rotating said spool; a non-metallic cover plate overlying the side of said chassis plate remote from said spool and with said chassis plate defining a transmission housing; said transmission including a drive shaft projecting through said cover plate; a removable crank on the end of said drive shaft; said transmission including-a lfree spool clutch means; manual contrclmeans passing through said cover plate and projecting on both sides thereof, for controlling said clutch means; said transmission including variable friction drive and drag means; a rotatable manual control element outside said housing co-axial with said drive shaft and lying between said crank and said cover-plate, and connections between said last mentioned control element and said friction means, for adjusting said friction means; a tail plate spaced from said chassis plate and cover plate; pillars fastened at one end to said tail plate; said pillars passing through the edges of said chassis plate and cover plate to unite them and said tail plate into a rigid frame; and means other than said pillars, for detachably fastening said chassis plate to said cover plate.

4. In a fishing reel, in combination: a chassis plate; a spool; a transmission carried by said chassis plate for rotating said spool; a non-metallic cover plate overlying the side of said chassis plate remote from said spool and with said chassis plate defining a transmission housing; a tail plate spaced from said chassis plate and cover plate; pillars fastened at one end to said tail plate; said pillars passing through the edge of said cover plate to unite said cover plate only and said tail plate into a rigid frame; and means other than said pillars, for detachably fastening said chassis plate to said cover plate. Y

5. In a free spool shing reel, in combination: a chassis plate having an offset rim; a spool having an end bell; the edge of said end bell being guarded by said rim; a transmission carried by said chassis plate for rotating said spool; a non-metallic cover plate overlying the side of said chassis plate remote from said spool and with said chassis plate defining a transmission housing; said transmission including a free spool clutch means; manual control means passing through said cover plate and projecting on both sides thereof, for controlling said clutch means; and means for detachably fastening said chassis plate to said cover plate.

6. In a fishing reel, in combination: a chassis plate having an offset rim; a spool having an end bell; the edge of said end bell being guarded by said rim; a transmission carried by said chassis plate for rotating said spool; a nonmetallic cover plate overlying the side of said chassis plate remote from said spool and with said chassis plate defining a transmission housing; a tail plate spaced from said chassis plate and -cover plate; pillars fastened at one end to said tail plate; said pillars passing through the edge of said cover plate to unite it and said tail plate into a rigid frame; and means other than said pillars, for detachably fastening said chassis plate to said cover plate.

7. In a fishing reel, in combination: a chassis plate; a spool; a transmission carried by said chassis plate for rotating said spool; a nonmetallic cover plate overlying the side of said chassis plate remote from said spool and with said chassis plate defining a transmission housing; said transmission including a drive shaft projecting through said cover plate; a removable crank on vthe end of said drive shaft; saidV transmission including a free spool clutch means; manual control means passing through said cover plate and projecting on. both sides thereof, for controlling said clutch means; said transmission including variable friction drive and drag means; a rotatable manual control element outside said housing co-aXial with said drive shaft and lying between said crank and said cover plate, and connections between said last mentioned control element and said friction means, for adjusting said friction means; and means for detachably fastening said chassis plate to said cover plate.

8. In a fishing reel, in combination: a chassis plate having an offset rim; an extension. ring having its inner edge fastened to said rim; said ring having an offset portion; a spool having an end bell; the edge of said end bell being guarded by said offset ring portion; a transmission carried by said chassis plate for rotating said spool; a cover plate overlying said ring and chassis plate and housing said transmission; a tail plate spaced from said chassis plate and cover plate; pillars fastened to said tail plate; said pillars passing through the said ring and cover plate to unite them and said tail plate into a rigid frame.

' `9. In a fishing reel, in combination: a plate having an offset rim; an extension ring having its inner edge fastened to said plate; said ring having an offset portion; a spool having an end bell; the edge of said end bell being guarded by said offset ring portion; a cover overlying the side of said plate remote from said spool and with said plate defining a transmission housing; a tail plate spaced from said plate and cover; pillars fastened to said tail plate; said pillars passing through the edge of said cover to unite it and said tail plate into a rigid frame; and means other than said pillars, for detachably fastening said plate to said cover.

10. In a free spool fishing reel, in combination: a spool; end plates between which said spool is pivotally mounted; a chassis plate mounted on one of said end plates; an axially slidable clutch member and a shifting member for sliding said clutch member, both mounted on said chassis plate; said clutch member, shifting member, and chassis plate being separately removable as a unitary assembly.

11. In a fishing reel, in combination: spaced head and tail end plates; connections uniting said plates into a unitary reel frame; a rotatable spool Within said reel frame having a shaft; a

`transmission for driving said spool including a driving gear and a driven pinion; and a stationary chassis plate mounted on said head end plate independently of said reel frame and carrying said transmission; said chassis plate and transmission being separately removable from said head end plate as a unitary assembly.

12. In a shing reel, in combination: spaced head and tail end plates; connections uniting said plates into a unitary reel frame; a rotatable spool within said reel frame having a shaft; a transmission for driving said spool including a driving gear and a driven pinion; and a stationary chassis plate mounted on said head end plate and carrying said transmission; said chassis plate and transmission being separately removable from said head end plate as a unitary assembly.

JOSEPH A. COXE. 

